Need Some Advice Please

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Pugsy
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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by Pugsy » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:52 am

One other thought....I wonder if the chin strap use is maybe part of whatever those ugly clusters in the past were caused from. Depending on the chin strap and positioning of the chin strap and whatever those ugly clusters were from...maybe it's just part of the culprit...maybe a combination of things.
I am going out on a long skinny limb with this thought and I could be all wet but it's something I would probably explore further if it were me.

I would for sure try more nights without the chin strap if at all possible (as long as doing without doesn't cause a lot of wake ups) to see what happens.

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Sun Nov 22, 2015 11:25 am

I just received a cervical collar from Amazon that was mentioned by others.

Does it have any benefit in keeping airway open?

I don't see it keeping my mouth closed though.

With a full face mask (Amara View) do I need to be concerned about open or closed mouth, other than dryness.

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by Pugsy » Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:27 pm

There is some thought that a cervical collar helps keep the airway in a more open position with less chance of neck position maybe making the airway collapse more.
I know one person who was able to go without cpap by using a cervical collar alone...documented with sleep studies done in a lab using the cervical collar.
Others find that they still have to use cpap but they can get by with less pressure which is always nice.

It won't/can't do much to keep the mouth shut though but it might support the jaw enough to help prevent the open mouth from jaw dropping. For some people that is enough to prevent mouth breathing and for others it isn't.

When you wear a full face mask there is no urgent need to worry about the mouth falling open other than the dryness that comes with mouth breathing. In terms of therapy the pressure is stable in the airway whether it is coming from the nose or mouth or both.

You might be able to use less pressure though...and that's always worth trying when someone is needing higher pressures. Would it support the jaw enough to maybe get by with something other than a full face mask....maybe yes...maybe no but again worth trying if someone was wanting to try using a nasal only mask of some sort. It won't stop mouth breathing alone but it might be enough of a reminder for the jaw to not drop and thus lessen mouth opening chances.

As with anything we use or try with this cpap therapy...YMMV and some people might find the restrictions of a cervical collar far outweigh any benefit they might get. Others might find the cervical collar a huge benefit to them by enabling them to use a different mask or get by with less pressure.

Sure worth trying though.

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:29 am

http://imgur.com/t70CUEv

Managed to wear cervical collar and chinstrap but AHI was 20

AS Pugsy advises, I need to wait until my mid-January appointment with DR. to see if BiLevel Machine is recommended by him.

Not much use in me posting daily results any further until then.

Pugsy, thank you very much for your ongoing expert advice.

I will update once I get new machine.

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Mon Nov 23, 2015 3:32 pm

Great news, just received an email from my Sleep Doctor and he advises that based upon my last Sleep Study results, my submitted data from Sleepyhead and Pugsy's written report he now is recommending a Bi-Level machine for me once I return from vacation.

Pugsy's made the same diagnosis based upon reviewing my daily posts and that should encourage everyone on this forum to do the same.

Stick with it, use Your SD card info, install and use Sleepyhead software and post your results for those generous and helpful people like Pugsy who give of their time and experience to help others in need of advice and encouragement.

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Tue Nov 24, 2015 9:31 am

Great news, just received an email from my Sleep Doctor and he advises that based upon my last Sleep Study results, my submitted data from Sleepyhead and Pugsy's written report he now is recommending a Bi-Level machine for me once I return from vacation.

Pugsy's made the same diagnosis based upon reviewing my daily posts and that should encourage everyone on this forum to do the same.

Stick with it, use Your SD card info, install and use Sleepyhead software and post your results for those generous and helpful people like Pugsy who give of their time and experience to help others in need of advice and encouragement.

http://i.imgur.com/fQjp7kT.png

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Wed Nov 25, 2015 4:17 pm

[/url]http://i.imgur.com/ghuk4Ye.png[/url]

More of the same. Awaiting my bi-Level machine as recommended by Pugsy & my Sleep Doctor.

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Sat Nov 28, 2015 12:14 pm

I am finding that the air flow through my nose with my Amara View mask is somewhat cold and chilling and makes it more difficult to get to sleep.

My min pressure is 16.5 and max is 20

Do some units heat the pressurized air flow?

My large size Amara View is supposed to arrive today.

Hopefully the bigger size will eliminate a sore that has developed on my septum which is very hard to heal.

I have been using moleskin to try and protect the spot.

Another 2 weeks and I will be home from vacation and anxious to try out bi-level machine that my Sleep Doctor is now recommending for me and which Pugsy recommended several weeks ago based upon reviewing my posted Sleepyhead charts.

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by Pugsy » Sat Nov 28, 2015 2:57 pm

There is a heated hose available for the PR System One 60 series machine you are using that will help with the cold air.
Since you are using a loaner and we know you will be getting a different machine and you are on vacation now anyway....probably best to wait and see what you end up with. Both ResMed and Respironics offer integrated heated hoses.

In the meantime what you can do to help warm the air in the hose is slip some old socks over the long hose to help insulate the air so that doesn't cool off so much.
That's what I did before heated hoses and I wanted a cheap option...old socks, cut off the toe to make a hole to slide over the hose...use several socks and secure with bread ties or even scotch tape.
They make store bought hose cozies but I wouldn't spend the money right now because if you get an integrated heated hose you most likely won't need a hose cozy.

Are you using a humidifier? Sometimes turning the setting up will help but to be honest if the room air temp is fairly cold even the highest setting on the System One, without heated hose, may not be enough.
I speak from experience with the System One and cold bedrooms.

The other alternative is simply to warm up the bedroom air temp but sometimes that's not so comfortable either.

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Sun Nov 29, 2015 11:15 am

Wrong URL, my AHI last night was 6.36, lowest ever by a good margin.

Obstructive 4.05 and Hypopnea 2.12

Finally a great night.

Used chinstrap and cervical collar and very mild sleeping pill and went to sleep almost instantly even though I did nothing all day and wasn't sleepy.

My wife said I never moved once all night.

Lowest AHI number yet.

I don't mind all the gear but getting to sleep is a major issue for me which just builds up anxiety and makes it even more difficult to sleep.

Ididn't use the Sleep Cycle App on my iphone as I don't really believe it works, any opinions on its accuracy.

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Last edited by AcedDublB on Sun Nov 29, 2015 1:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Too tall
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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by Too tall » Sun Nov 29, 2015 1:07 pm

Go back to the quattro mask and see what sleephead says. If nostril are 3/4 covered, that seems like a problem?
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AcedDublB
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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Sun Nov 29, 2015 1:45 pm

My Large Amara View comes tomorrow and I am anxious to see difference in size.

My nostrils seem blocked about 50% and I have no trouble breathing and pressure is between 17 and 20.

Quattro was really chewing up bridge of my nose.

Thanks for your input.

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Sun Nov 29, 2015 1:57 pm


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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Tue Dec 01, 2015 9:45 am

http://i.imgur.com/vYTAtwO.png

Received my Large Amara View yesterday, much more comfortable around nose.

AHI of 10 but making progress.

Best part is that I feel that I am actually sleeping through the night and not awakening every few hours.

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Re: Need Some Advice Please

Post by AcedDublB » Wed Dec 02, 2015 8:21 am

http://imgur.com/KMTdgDY

Great progress, AHI down to 5.15 last night.

Get the BiPAP next week so hoping to start going even lower.

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